Bioactive 11,20-epoxy-3,5(16)-diene briarane diterpenoids from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea.

Seven new briarane diterpenoids, gemmacolides G-M (1-7), were isolated together with two known analogues, juncin O and junceellolide C, from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by detailed analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison with reported data. In an in vitro bioassay, these compounds exhibited different levels of growth inhibition activity against A549 and MG63 cells. In particular, compound 4 was more active than the positive control adriamycin against A549 cells. Compounds 4 and 7 also exhibited weak antimicrobial activity against the bacterium Bacillus megaterium and the fungus Septoria tritici, respectively.